Meeting with EC President Jose Manuel Barroso
At the initiative of EMEC, a meeting took place on 17 September 2008, between the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, and the representatives of the European shipbuilding industry.
EMEC was represented by its Chairman, W. M. van Gulpen, its Secretary General, Paola Lancellotti and CESA attended the meeting in the persons of Kommer Damen and Reinhard Lueken, Chairman and Secretary General respectively.
Prior to the meeting with the President, the two associations met in order to consolidate the point of view of the industry on Europe's challenges currently on the agenda of the European Commission on globalization, climate change, competitiveness and innovation.
President Barroso acknowledged the importance of keeping and growing competitive and innovative maritime industries in Europe and noted the role of the European Shipbuilding Industry. He also recognized the contribution innovative European marine equipment can make to delivering cleaner ships with reduced emissions and the need to maintain the competitiveness of the European maritime industry. EMEC pointed out that European suppliers consider globalization as an opportunity to consolidate their leadership role in the market for parts, services and materials for shipbuilding.
On competitiveness and innovation, the industry representatives explained that European yards and suppliers are investing significant resources in research, development and innovation, thereby supporting the Lisbon Strategy for an European economy based on knowledge. EMEC invited the Commission to pursue its policy of making classification and certification more efficient, in order to foster the competitiveness of the sector and to allow additional resources to be invested on development and innovation, to the benefit of transport operators, the environment and society at large. EMEC and CESA also insisted that European companies should be supported in their efforts to protect against loss of know-how due to counterfeiting and piracy. CESA presented its new initiative, GuardSHIP, as an example for decisive counter-action by the yards. Global competition requires globally accepted rules on IP protection. Examples of practical cases suffered by the European Industry were illustrated to President Barroso who acknowledged the importance of better protection to the benefit of safer seas. CESA stressed the need to have a level playing field for supply of raw materials. They emphasised that big prices differences for steel in the EU compared to the Asian average, together with trade obstacles have a severe negative impact on EU producers’ competitiveness.
On the environment, EMEC assured the Commission President that European suppliers are ready to play their part and to deliver innovative solutions for the reduction of greenhouse gasses (GHG) from shipping and the prevention of the consequences of accidents on the environment. Both EMEC and CESA drew attention to the fact that, given the global dimension of shipping, environmental standards should be imposed to all fleets around the world in order to ensure their effectiveness.
